A senior U.S. government official reported that the United States is in a "high state of readiness" and is actively preparing to respond to a possible "major" Iranian attack that could be launched as early as next week targeting Israel or U.S. assets in the region, but as of April 5, they did not know when or how Iran planned to strike back. CBS says another major unknown is from where the Iranian drones and missiles will be launched: from Iraq, Syria or Iran itself
(Observer news) CNN quoting a senior U.S. government official reported that for the attack on the Iranian embassy building in Syria, the United States is in a "high state of readiness," and is actively preparing to respond to an Iranian attack that could be launched as early as next week, targeting Israel or U.S. assets in the "greater" region.
According to CBS, U.S. officials have received intelligence information indicating that Iran may use a large number of "Shahd" drones and cruise missiles in a retaliatory strike and may attack Israeli diplomatic facilities equivalent to the Iranian embassy, probably between now and the end of Ramadan next week.
Flags of Iran and Israel. GettyImages.
According to CNN, U.S. President Joe Biden's phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday local time was dominated by the theme of the impending Iranian attack. A senior U.S. official revealed that the U.S. and Israel believe an Iranian attack is "inevitable," the U.S. is in a high state of readiness for Iran to launch an attack against the two Middle Eastern countries to prepare for a response.
The official said that as of Day 5, the two governments did not know when or how Iran planned to strike back, but it was expected that a related attack could occur as early as next week and take place in a variety of ways, with the likelihood of targeting both U.S. and Israeli assets and personnel in the region.
CNN reports that a direct Iranian attack on Israel is "one of the worst-case scenarios" the Biden administration is guarding against, one that could quickly escalate the already unstable Middle East and could lead the war between Israel and Hamas to expand into the broader regional conflict the Biden administration has long sought to avoid.
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) also mentioned that the United States is concerned about the possibility of attacks against "military or intelligence targets" in Israel.
Also according to CBS, the United States has received information indicating that Iran is planning a retaliatory attack that would include the use of a large number of Shahd drones and cruise missiles. Officials also said that although it is unclear what Iran is planning, the reciprocal response to the Damascus attack could be an attack on an Israeli diplomatic facility, which is likely to take place between now and the end of Ramadan next week.
CBS says another major unknown is from where the Iranian drones and missiles will be launched: from Iraq, Syria or Iran itself.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Jamshidi, deputy director for political affairs at the Iranian presidential office, said on social media on May 5 that Iran has "warned" the United States "in writing" not to fall into Israel's trap, IRNA reported.
"In a written message, Iran warned U.S. leaders not to fall into the trap that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) has set for the United States: to step aside to avoid being hit." In response, he wrote in the post, the United States "asked" Iran not to target U.S. facilities.
Jamshidi said on social media on the 5th that Iran "warned" the United States "in writing" not to fall into Israel's trap.
CBS confirmed that the U.S. received a written message from Iran, with the Swiss government acting as a go-between because the U.S. and Iran do not have diplomatic relations.
Asked about Jamshidi's publication, a State Department spokesman told CBS that the United States also sent a written warning to Iran, which "cautioned" it not to use the Israeli attack as a pretext to attack U.S. personnel and facilities.
He also pointed out that, unlike the Iranian definition, the U.S. response was a "warning," not a "request," and CNN said a senior administration official described the U.S. warning to Iran as "don't even think about coming after us! Don't even think about coming after us."
On April 1, local time, an airstrike against Iran's diplomatic headquarters in Damascus, Syria, "leveled" the consulate building attached to the embassy, killing more than a dozen people, including seven Iranian military personnel. The Israeli military would not comment on the Syrian-Iranian designation of an Israeli attack, but according to an article in the U.S. newspaper The New York Times, four Israeli officials, who asked not to be named, acknowledged that Israel carried out the attack. The Pentagon also said Tuesday that initial U.S. assessments indicate that Israel carried out the airstrike.
After the attack, Iran vowed to respond "with the same scope and severity." On the 3rd, Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei forcefully declared that Israel "of course, will be a slap in the face." On the 4th, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the recall of reserve soldiers to join the Air Defense Forces and recalled all combat troops on leave, which was interpreted by the media as a response to possible Iranian retaliatory attacks.
On the same day, Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that Iran will suffer the consequences of any retaliatory action against Israel.
According to reports by Russia Today, at a security cabinet meeting held that evening, the president said that "Iran has been fighting us for years, directly and through its proxies, and therefore Israel is confronting us both offensively and defensively." And he warned, "We know how to defend ourselves and we will act according to a simple principle: anyone who harms us or intends to harm us, we will hit him hard."
Separately, the Times of Israel reported on May 5 that an Israeli source confirmed that Israel temporarily closed 28 embassies abroad on the same day for fear of Iranian retaliation.
The report also mentions that the precautionary measure was taken on the occasion of "Al-Quds Day." On April 5, local time, demonstrations broke out in Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Bahrain, Pakistan and other countries to protest the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.
On that day, thousands of people, including locals and Palestinian refugees, demonstrated for Al-Quds Day in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and the southern city of Sidon. Lebanese Hezbollah leader Nasrallah said in a video message that Hezbollah was awaiting Iran's response to the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria, that Hezbollah was prepared for any eventuality, and that it would regret its decision if Israel launched an all-out war against Lebanon.
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